Virginia "Jan" Atkins

CHARLESTON, IL – Virginia Anne Hogge “Jan” Atkins, age 85, passed away on July 8, 2019 at Lakewood Manor in Richmond, Virginia.  Jan lived in Charleston for more than 50 years before moving to Richmond.

Jan was born in Newport News, Virginia on December 28, 1933.  She was raised in Hampton, Virginia, the oldest of four children of the late John Lewis Hogge and Virginia (Curtis) Hogge.  She married Dr. D. Ferrel Atkins on June 8, 1955 in Hampton and they were married for 56 years prior to his death on September 16, 2011.  She was also preceded by her sister, Elizabeth (Hogge) Morton and her son-in-law H. Duane Guettler.  She is survived by her son, Alden L. Atkins and wife Stephanie of Alexandria, Virginia; her daughter Anne A. Guettler of New Castle, Colorado; her six grandchildren, Kristin Ullrich (Ronnie), Mikaela Cain (Tom), Tyler Guettler (Shelby), Ferrel Atkins, Alexis Atkins and Adrienne Atkins; her two great-grandchildren Sophia Ullrich and Hadlee Cain; her brother John W. Hogge (Susan) of Raleigh, North Carolina; and her sister Martha H. Forest (Gary) of Newport News, Virginia.

Jan received a B.A. in Mathematics from Westhampton College in 1956, and she was a member of Pi Mu Epsilon National Honorary Mathematics Fraternity and Phi Alpha Theta National Honorary History Fraternity.  She raised eyebrows when she married Ferrel, who was one of her professors.  She received an M.A. in History from Eastern Illinois University.  Her career began in Richmond as a grade school teacher, and after raising her family she accepted a position as an instructor at Eastern Illinois University where Ferrel was a professor.  The family spent the summers in Estes Park, Colorado, where Ferrel was a ranger at Rocky Mountain National Park and where Jan made lifelong friends and played exceptional bridge.

Jan was a devoted member of P.E.O., an organization to promote women and educational opportunities for women.  She was a member of the Charleston CF Chapter, and she rose through the ranks of the executive board to become the Illinois State President in 2008, where she led hundreds of members in dozens of chapters across the state.  She was an avid reader, and her children and grandchildren will always remember her warmth and quick wit.

Funeral services, honoring and celebrating her life, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 15, 2019 at Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston with Pastor Tom Farris officiating.  Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until service time.  Interment will be private at the Olive Branch Cemetery in Clark County, Illinois.  Visitation and Funeral Services were also held in Richmond.

Memorial gifts may be made in her name to Cottey College, a college sponsored by P.E.O.  Gifts may be left at the visitation/service or mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL  61920.

Funeral ServiceThe funeral service honoring and celebrating the life of Jan Atkins was held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 15, 2019 at Adams Funeral Chapel with Reverend Tom Farris officiating.  Eulogies were given by her children, Alden Atkins and Anne Guettler as well as a P.E.O. sister, Jane Attaway.  Her grandson, Alden Atkins presented the reading of the obituary and granddaughter, Mikaela Guettler Cain read the 23rd Psalm.  Musical selections included "Amazing Grace", "Old Rugged Cross" and "My Heart Will Go On".  A Private Interment service was held for family at 2:00 p.m. that afternoon at the Olive Branch Cemetery in Clark County, Illinois.